A TASTE of Britpop comes to the South-West later this month with the hotly-anticipated return of former Geneva frontman Andrew Montgomery.

The angel-voiced Scot had a string of top-40 hits with Geneva in the late 1990s and performed with the band at a number top festivals, including the 1997 V Festival alongside Stereophonics.

Now pursuing a solo career, Montgomery's debut album Ruled by Dreams was released earlier this month and features Suede guitarist Richard Oakes and legendary producer Sean McGhee.

BBC 6 Music were among those offering rave reviews of the album, with reviewer Chris Hawkins saying: "Will make every hair on your body stand on end."

Ruled by Dreams is an album of beautiful modern pop that is as sensual as it is confessional, placing Montgomery's three-octave voice front and centre.

As part of a short UK tour to mark the launch of the album, Andrew Montgomery comes to the Exchange in Bristol on Thursday 23 October followed by the Exeter Phoenix on Sunday 26 October.

Tickets for both gigs are priced at £7 and are available from www.exchangebristol.com / 0117-9874144 (Bristol gig) or www.exeterphoenix.org.uk / 01392-667080 (Exeter gig).

For more on Andrew Montgomery - and to listen to clips from the new album - visit www.ruledbydreams.com